Postgraduate Study

One of the only all-girls schools in the country to offer a postgraduate program.

Taking an extra year among intellectually curious young women in a supportive campus environment provides a unique opportunity to grow on many levels – academically, personally and athletically. Postgraduates leave Walker’s with a greater understanding of their own strengths – and with more confidence and preparedness to take on college, and beyond.

The unique components of Walker’s postgraduate experience are geared to each young woman’s educational objectives, including full access to Upper School courses, college counseling services, our signature capabilities approach to the acquisition of life-long skills, and our athletic and co-curricular programs. Walker’s admits qualified applicants who have earned a high school diploma to join our boarding and day community.

Postgraduates will have flexibility to tailor their academic year. Many opt to balance honors and advanced level courses to bolster their college admissions potential with highly applicable, real-world offerings, such as public speaking, coding and financial literacy. Walker’s emphasizes writing and critical-thinking skills – essential tools for success in college.

Unique course offerings – from Entrepreneurship to Equine Science, Inequality in the United States to Arctic Studies, and Environmental Science to Forensics, to name a few – ensure that you will not be repeating what you did in high school. Engaged faculty challenge Walker’s girls to think deeply and critically and to find their voice in the classroom and in subjects where girls and women are often underrepresented – vital skills for excelling in college.

A faculty advisor specifically dedicated to postgraduates.

The postgraduate advisor has knowledge of the unique aspects and opportunities of a postgraduate year and guides students in selecting courses and experiences that will help them to make the most of this time.

While some students may arrive with college acceptances, others may be using their postgraduate year to focus on preparing for and selecting their appropriate next step. College counseling begins the summer before postgraduates arrive on campus, with College Counseling Advisors meeting regularly with graduating students to support their college application process.

Postgraduates enter as members of the senior class, and quickly find their place through membership in clubs and organizations, athletics, activities and traditions that mark a very special year at Walker’s. The memories, friendships and connections postgraduate students make with our global student body last a lifetime.

Rather than structured study hall each night, seniors and postgraduates in good academic standing have quiet hours in their dorm rooms. Seniors and all postgraduate students live in Cluett Dorm, which provides a perfect balance of independence and supervision for our older students.

Highlights of the postgraduate year:

Participating in weekend trips to New York City, themed dinners and senior activities

Enjoying the freedom of senior privileges and a taste of the independence of college life

Competing in wide-ranging athletic and equestrian programs for all ability levels

Engaging in Walker’s traditions, including Mountain Day, Suns and Dials spirit clubs, Lacuna and Dogswood Day